Pearl Expert 7.4 - Empty Fixture List [Resolved]

[nicobeg]

Hello Everyone,

I have, for my first time, try to update the personality list from my Pearl Expert after Update the software from 6.1 to 7.4 (via 7.0).

I use the file "PearlExpertTitanFixtureLibrary.exe" (=> from http://personalities.avolites.com (main page) -> Pearl Expert Titan(Including Classic))
But when I restart the consol, when I select Patch -> [fixture], on the display the message "Indexing Library..." I see 5 sec but after that : noting...
I try different way, with shutdown software first, without restart, ...
I try to instal only one personality (when the website let me download only the file corresponding to my choice), ...

EDIT : I can't patch dimmer too. A warning sign is near the address (like when I try to patch on address where an other one is) but it is in a new show.

I will be really happy if someone can help me.

Thanks a lot.

[niclights]

After downloading the library did you run the installer?

- Place the file 'PearlExpertTitanFixtureLibrary.exe' in the root of a Usb thumbdrive.
- Place Usb thumbdrive in front of console.
- Go to Tools/Control Panel/Titan Installers and select 'PearlExpertTitanFixtureLibrary'.

This should launch the library installer. Select 'Ok' when prompted in the installer dialog.

When complete restart the software and everything should be good.

Note that the option to download and install individual files is not fully supported at the moment. It is possible but the files must go in a particular place. Generally unless instructed otherwise it is best to use the installers.

[nicobeg]

Thanks for your help Niclights

I haven't go to Control Panel/Titan Installers, I have select the installer with Tools/Folder -> Select my USB Thumbdrive, and then the exe file. I will try that but I'm not with the console now. I will be back home this afternoon 3 PM in Belgium
I didn't see a box with "ok", the button was "Install" in fact. Is it ok also ?
I found the fixture in C:\Program files\Avolite\Personalities\R20\.... (I write this path from memory)

I don't really know where the fixture should be, with format I should use (.d4 or .R20), ... (sorry I'm new Avolite's user)
Is it a setting where the path to the library is defined ?

Regarding to my Edit from my first post, I wonder if it's possible that it was during the update software that the bug appears ? Let me describe what I done yesterday before upgrade personalities :
After shutdown the software I can't really restart the panel when I upgrade the soft (after 10min of "please wait..." on the display with increasing number more than 999) I continue the installer wizard.
After the install of 7.0 I have the "dongle not found" error, but like I read on this forum I ignore that and with the Install 7.4 this error disappear, the check Health told me that everything is ok, panel include (except personalities and licence : I have received this morning the full licence, yesterday I used a temporary licence of 15days).


Thanks again,

[niclights]

There is no difference between using Control Panel/Titan Installers or navigating to the executable in Explorer and launching it. The Control Panel way is just a bit easier.

Sorry, I was going from memory about the dialog prompts. I'm sure it's obvious what to press!

Avolites\Personalities\R20 is for Classic. Titan uses .d4 files which are installed to a hidden directory on the D: drive.

Not sure about problem with restart software. This may have been related to 'dongle not found' error. Has this fixed itself after upgrading to 7.4? Dimmer is just another fixture in the library. If the library is empty or this file is missing then you will get the error when trying to patch a dimmer. So it is entirely a library issue and not a problem with the software/install.


If it wasn't for the temporary recall of v8 I would suggest doing a full v8 recovery at this point to save a lot of messing around. As it is if you are still having problems try downloading and installing the library again.

[nicobeg]

Yes the 'dongle not found' error disappear itself with 7.4, I don't have used "fixe" option with the check health at the start up of Titan.

If found old personalities created by the previous owner of the console with .d4 extension file. This personalities are not shown either. Maybe this can explain somethings ?
In this direction, maybe there is some directory where I can copy/paste fixture to test different things ?

[niclights]

Custom/previous personalities were probably wiped during updates at some point. In the newer versions there is a mechanism to preserve custom/edited personalities for all types of update except full recovery. But this would not apply to earlier versions.

Please try downloading the library again. Install, restart software and try and patch a dimmer. If it still throws an error then something must have become broken in the update process.

In this case I would recommend running a 7.1 recovery using the full erase option. Then install 7.4 over the top. Then install latest library.

This may sound long and inconvenient but in my experience it's quicker than the time spent going back and forwards here. The full erase recovery should ensure everything is present and correct.

Note that if you have any showfiles you will need to back them up to a thumbdrive before running the full recovery. Unfortunately this will also mean you will need a new license for 7.4 but this should not be a problem.

[nicobeg]

Ok,

So when I come back home, I try again to install the personalities with a fresh donwloaded exe file. But if it didn't work :

1) I download : "Pearl Expert Titan v7.1 Recovery Creator" (Is that the correct file ?) from http://www.avolites.com/software/downloads/pearl-expert and follow the instruction to use the full erase option,

2) Then I redownload "Pearl Expert Titan v7.4 Upgrade Installer" from the same web page and follow the instruction. Ask for a new licence and used the temporary licence during the process.

3) And then I redownload the personalities with the "Pearl Expert Titan (Including Classic)" Button from http://personalities.avolites.com/ .

I have no show to preserved so I just do this 3 step... and maybe a little prayer will help

[Gregory]

If you still have the email with your previous full licence you should be able to reuse that after running the full erase recovery.

[nicobeg]

I'm trying to use the "Pearl Expert Titan v7.1 Recovery Creator".

I follow the instruction, let the soft create a bootable USB drive (1 USB have the exe file, a second USB empty, FAT format for create the bootable drive).
After that I need do some instruction in BIOS (not required for Pearl Expert Pro - I think I have the Pearl Expert so I follow the instruction).
But when I start in the USB Drive, I have
"Verifying DMI Pool Data .....
DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER" on my external screen.

[Gregory]

If you plug the USB stick you are attempting to boot from into a computer can you see, among others, the sources and PearlExpert directories and the file bootmgr?

[nicobeg]

I plug it to my iMac. I see

folder "sources"
folder "PearlExpert"
file "bootmgr"
and other directories and files

[niclights]

I think this sounds like it isn't a bootable drive.

Windows 7 and above should do this automatically but if for some reason it hasn't or if you are using XP then you can use RMPrep to do this (the instructions are shown when you run the recovery disk creator). Then run recovery disk creator again, using your bootable stick as the destination.

Or I might have got this all wrong and Gregory can correct me...

[Gregory]

To show the RMPrepUSB instructions and stop the recovery creator from attempting to make the drive bootable itself you can set the application to run in Compatibility mode for Windows XP. To get to this right-click on the executable and select Properties, then switch to the Compatibility tab.

You will need to download and run RMPrepUSB first and when running the recovery creator untick the box to format the drive.

[nicobeg]

Ok I will try that.
RMPrepUSB is to running on my personal computer ? (I have a Mac OS, I need to use a virtual Windows I suppose)

and
<<To show the RMPrepUSB instructions and stop the recovery creator from attempting to make the drive bootable itself you can set the application to run in Compatibility mode for Windows XP. To get to this right-click on the executable and select Properties, then switch to the Compatibility tab.>>
It's to run on the avolite I guess ?!

[niclights]

You will need Windows to run both RMPrep and the Recovery Creator installer. Maybe you can do this from the console but I have never tried.